Real Racing 2 update will add 'Party Play' mode

Gamemaker Firemint says it will update its Real Racing 2 line of games to take advantage of the massive processing power of the new iPhone 4S—and to add a new AirPlay-enabled "Party Play" feature that lets multiple iOS players compete against each other on a single high-definition television.

Firemint also said that both games will be updated to offer Airplay-enabled Party Play. The new offering allows up to four players on the same wireless network to compete on a split-screen HDTV display, using either an iPad 2 or an iPhone 4S as the host. (See the video below for a demonstration.) That AirPlay action is possible only with the video mirroring supported by the A5 chip that powers both of those iOS devices, and may prove to become the biggest iOS threat yet to traditional gaming consoles—if developers follow Firemint’s footsteps in coupling touch-screen controls with performance optimizations for your big screen television.

Firemenet didn’t yet specify when the games will be updated. Real Racing 2 costs $5, and is compatible with devices running iOS 3.1 or later. Real Racing 2 HD costs $7, and is compatible with iPads running iOS 3.2 or later.